Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-03
STEVENS HANGED.
The Criuse for which HE Paid the
PenatIy T'hts AELermoos,

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PRIsoEss ANNE, Nd, Feb. Is. The
execution of Jim Stevens will take place
shortly after noon. He retired st 10
O'Clock last night, slept we'll, aud arising
early thia morning made hearty break
fast of ham eggs, beefsteak and lnek-
wheat cakes, with pint of hot coffee.
Stevens says he is ready for bis doom.
and appears calm and unconcerned, He
has told conflicting stories, in scme of
which he has admitted all but the actual
contamination of the crime for which he
was convicted.
At 10 o'clock Stevens' spiritual adviser,
DR.. Martin formerly of Wilmington)
arrived at the Jail and at once entered
the cell with him. The gallows hes been
put up within temporary frame structure
adjoining the Jail. 1t has drop Of seven
feet.
HANGED at 125 81.
PRNoEss ANNE, Nd, Feb. 25. Jim
Stevens was hanged at 1887. He died
almost with a struggle.
HE SHOWED GREAT NERVE.
PRINoRss ANNE, Feb. 25.-Steytns ex-
hibitsd wonderful nerve on the scaffold.
During the operation Of adjusting the
rope around his neck and tying his
arms, legs and ankles, which occu-
pied eight minutes of intense strain,
he stood unfinchingly, lis gaze
directed upward and his lips moving
as in silent prayer. Once he turned his
head and spat ON the scsffold and while
his feet were being tied, he glanced down
as If the cord was being drawn too
tightly. He spoke no audible word dur
ing the ordeal. He died very easily, his
neck being broken. His heart ceased to
beat in 10 minutes, and he was cut down
in 20.
STORY OF STEVENS CRIME.
The crime for which Jim Stevens, alias
Wright, was hanged, was committed on
the night of July 10th last the victim of
his atrocity being Mrs. Mary Trehearn, a
white woman and widow, who COM
pleted her 60th year in October, 1885.
MIS-. Trehearn had been living for several
years previous entirely alone, in the
house where her husband died, situated
in Dublin district about eight miles from
Princess Anne. When her friends re-
monstrated with her about living alone,
she would tell them that she was per-
feotly safe; that no one would disturb an
oAd WoAuhh hho hoKs out1 Ou bn6 hiRut
above mentioned, between IL and /
o'clock, Stevens entered her dwelling
through window and committed the as
sault which he has expiated with his life.
He was arrested day or two after, and,
at the October term of the Somerset
county court, was indicted, tried and
convicted. The evidence against him
was largely circumstantial, but such as
to leave with the jury no doubt of his
guilt. Stevens, has, since conviction,
orott sied that he was innocent that he
vas very drunk ON TINT night, ard that,
if he entered Mrs Trehearn's house, he
lid not assault her. An effort was made
by his counsel to secure him q new trial,
but the court of appeals denied the mo-
ton and Governor Lloyd shortly there
after, forwarded to Sheriff John H.
Miles the death-warrant, naming ths day
Of execution.
The gallows used to-day is the same on
which Hiram Fooks was hanged, nine
years ago, for the murder of Jack Taylor,
colored. This, the last preceding execu
tion in Somerset county, took place in
public, on field of the slmshouse farm
Since then the instrument of death had
been stored away at the farm. The rope
with which Hiram Fooks was hanged was
also preserved, end was used today to
encircle the neck of Stevens.